Oliver Smith heads Bramham Horse Trials under-25s after cross-country
The leader board underwent dramatic changes in the cross-country phase of the under-25 national championship at Bramham Horse Trials this morning. Oliver Smith is now in pole position on Trinity Hill after adding just 4.8 time-faults to his dressage score of 50.9.
“I’ve only been riding him since the beginning of the season, but he’s been very well produced by William Fox-Pitt, which makes my job a lot easier,” said Oliver, 24. “I wasn’t going to come here but he went so well [in the CCI**] at Compiègne that I thought I might as well have a crack with him.”
Emily Llewellyn had a day of mixed fortunes. She started well when she added just six time-penalties with Society Spice, who moves up from fifth after dressage to second.
But Emily had a less happy time with dressage leader Pardon Me II, who had a couple of stops and then fell at fence 24, the Bishop Burton College Cheese Table.
“He was a bit tired but he never leaves even a leg — or even a hoof — but it was dark in there so maybe he misjudged it,” she said.
Phoebe Buckley put in one of only two rounds inside the optimum time in this section to move up into third with the 15hh mare Little Tiger.
RESULTS AFTER CROSS-COUNTRY
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Under-25 CCI***
1. Trinity Hill (Oliver Smith, GB) 55.7
2. Society Spice (Emily Llewellyn, GB) 60.3
3. Little Tiger (Phoebe Buckley, GB) 60.7
4. Ballybolger Bushman (Sam Watson, IRL) 63.5
5. Kilpatrick River (Elizabeth Power, IRL) 63.9
6. Stormstay (Aaron Millar, GB) 65.5
Full results and times from Bramham
Report on senior CCI*** section
Gallery of Bramham cross-country fences
Log back on to www.horseandhound.co.uk for daily reports from Bramham and don’t forget to buy H&H next Thursday (12 May) for a full report, colour photographs and William Fox-Pitt’s comment.
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Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.